Rangers Outhit, but Out-fielded by ‘Stros

  The Dayton Rangers were at the mercy of Astros starter Bryan Leach for much of the afternoon, as the Astros defeated the Rangers 9-5 at AIA. In between striking out the side in the first inning and his final inning in the sixth, Leach allowed only 6 hits and two runs.

Rookie Jack Millard started for the Rangers was roughed up for eight runs, four of which were earned over 4+ innings of work. Brad Clark relieved Millard in the fifth and silenced the ‘Stros bats the rest of the way, allowing two hits and one unearned run.

The Astros jumped out early with a two-run home run by Gregg Foster in the bottom of the first inning. Bryan Leach helped his own cause with a RBI single to center in the second for a 2-0 lead. PJ Dobbins singled in Foster in the third and the ‘Stros held a 4-0 advantage heading into the fifth.

Jeremy Lippincott belted his second home run of the season in the fifth to get the Rangers on the board. However, with three fielding miscues in the bottom of the inning, the Astros put four more runs up to take a commanding 8-1 lead. Clint Wolf singled in Jacob Robinson in the sixth inning to make the score 8-2.

Leach gave way to rookie Garret Corpas in the 7^th inning. The Rangers reeled off four straight singles, but could only produce one run. Wolf blasted a two-run home run to center in the eighth inning to complete the scoring for the Rangers.

Offensive performances of note: Jeremy Lippincott 2-4 HR; Clint Wolf 2-4 HR 3RBI; Jacob Robinson 2-4 double, SB; Brad Clark 2-3.